President of the European Research Council, professor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, visited the University of Novi Sad on 4 September 2018. The visit of professor Bourguignon was hosted at the University by the Rector, Prof. Dr. Dušan Nikolić, which was followed by a joint meeting with deans of faculties, directors of institutes and researchers of the University of Novi Sad.

The meeting was also attended by Prof. Dr. Viktor Nedović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Prof. Dr. Dušica Rakić, Deputy Provinical Secretary for higher education and scientific research, Dr. Gordana Popović, representative of the European Research Council and Nada Milošević, advisor in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and a contact person for the European Research Council.

After the joint meeting in the Rectorate of the University of Novi Sad, professor Bourguignon visited the BioSense Institute.

European Research Council

European Research Council – ERC is a public institution for funding scientific and technological research in the European Union. It was established in 2007 by the European Commission, under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Today, it is leading component of the Horizon 2020 programme, the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme for the period 2014-2020, and part of the first pillar "Excellent Science".

The mission of the European Research Council is to encourage research of the highest quality in Europe by a competitive system of funding and to support research in all fields of science guided by the principle of excellence. The activities of the European Research Council add to the support of national agencies for financing scientific research in Europe.

Funds of the European Research Council are awarded through public calls for projects that are led by experienced researchers or researchers at the beginning of their careers, who live in Europe or have moved to Europe for the purpose of conducting their research. The main criteria for project selection if scientific excellence.

By supporting the best scientific and research ideas in Europe, and at the same time attracting talent from abroad, the European Research Council aims to better position European universities and research institutions on the global scene, as well as to use the results of research projects for achieving significant scientific progress as basis for new industries and markets, as well as for wider social innovations in the future.